Packet-fastener.



B. P. FREEMAN.

PAGKET PASTE-NEE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8,1914.

1,129,082., Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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' PAGKET-FASTENER.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed May 8, 1914. Serial No. 837,153.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. FREE MAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Long Island City, in thecounty of Queens and State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in PacketFasteners, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to packet fasteners and ties, and has for itsobject the provision of such a device which will secure, withoutknotting, the end of the cord that had been passed around the packet;which will reliably'remain in the securing position; which in thisposition will moreover maintain the cord tightly around the packet sothat neither the individual papers or parts of the packet nor thefastener itself can slip; and which may be readily released by a simplemovement so as to disengage the end quick and easy unfastening of thepacket.

While the invention is capable of wide use and applicatiomit isespecially designed for and applicable to the use of mail clerks whomust fasten packets rapidly and easily in such an effective manner thatthey will not become loose or unwrapped, and so that: they may bequickly and readily unfastened when desired.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement andcombination of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and hereinafterdescribed, it being understood that the embodiment of the inventiondisclosed is to be considered as illustrative and that modifications maybe devised Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a plan view of the fastener, the attachedcord being broken off at a short distance therefrom; Fig. 2 is aninverted side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a side view of a packetwith the securing'cord in position and held by the fastener; and Fig. 4is a plan view of the same.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the fastener consists ina body formed of wire spirally wound, the successive convolutions atincreasing in diameter from the center. A represents this body, whichmay be made of any preferred size of wire, and of any preferred sizeaccording to the size and weight of the packet to be fastened.

The outer end a of the spiral, and also the inner end, may be finishedoff in any preferred manner, preferably in such a way as not to catch orchafe the cord or the packet with which. the fastener is used.

The fastener A is shown as, and is preferably given, a conical form, theapex a of the cone corresponding to the central portion of the spiral.The wire employedis preferably of spring metal, so that when properpressure is applied the cone is capable of being compressed, and whenthe pressure is relieved it is capable of assuming its conical shape.

The cord or other flexible connection B with which the packet is to bebound or fastened is being passed through a central aperture at the apexof the cone and having a knot b at the end which is of such size that itwill not pass through the aperture.

In the fastening of a packet by the use of my fastener, as shown inFigs. 3 and 4:, the packet is held in one hand with the body A heldunder the thumb with the apex at against the packet. The cord is thenpassed around the packet one or more times in at least two directions,preferably, say longitudinally and then crosswise, to form binding bandswhich hold the packet together. The cord is next passed around itselfunder the body A of the fastener and immediately adjacent the same, oneor more times, to form a locking loop. The body A is then inverted andturned under the bands, thus partially at least compressing theconvolutions of the spiral so that a spring pressure is exerted betweenthe body of the packet and the binding bands, with the locking loopcaught and securely held in between. In this position the fastener willremain securely held so that the end of the cord cannot become loose,and the spring action will maintain the binding bands tight around thepacket.

In order to release the fastener, or untie the packet, the end of thecord is given a quick outward and upward pull, which results inwithdrawing the fastener body A from its inverted position under thebinding bands and the cord may then be unwound from the packet at once.-It will therefore be seen that no manual manipulation of the fastenerbody is required in unfastening, and there are no knots to be untied.

preferably secured to the body A by 1 Having described my invention,What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. A packet fastener comprising an axially resilient button and a cordcentrally attached thereto.

2. A packet fastener comprising a spring Wire axially resilient buttonand a cord centrally attached thereto.

3. A packet fastener comprising a spiral spring Wire body incombinationWith a cord secured to the central portion thereof, substantially asdescribed.

4; A packet fastener comprising a conical spring Wire body incombination With a cord extending outwardly from the apex thereof,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. FREEMAN.

lVitnesses:

h/IARIE J. HANNAN, JAMES MoCoNNnLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

. Washington, D. C.

